I know you want to put forth your best in your headshot. You want to look professional, not sloppy. You want your personality to shine but not come off the wrong way. Here are a few tips to make sure you look your best.

Let’s start with what you should NOT wear:

Busy patterns that distract vs. attract
Monotone can work, but not if you are matching the background
All white, I have some samples of this working very well, but it can be tricky
Ill fitting clothing, baggy or too tight are never flattering
Bare shoulders, unless you are outside on a summer day, think of a cardigan or suit coat instead
Neon colors. This isn’t the 80’s, please skip the neon
Clothing that isn’t you. If you are uncomfortable, your photo will be too
Casual wear belongs on the beach, not on a professional photo. A t-shirt can work great under a suit coat, but not everyone can pull that off
Wrinkles. Please check over your clothing to make sure it’s neat and fresh and doesn’t look like you pulled it off the pile in the back of your closet
Fabrics that are see through when light is on them, undergarments that are bright colored can show through
Undergarments that show
Glasses are great if you wear them all the time, but to avoid glare, skip them if you can
Accessories that are more of a bother then a benefit (necklaces that don’t lay well, an ill fitting tie)

What should you wear?

Consider what the photo will be used for:

Job or medical school application? A suit or professional attire is great
Updated socials media profile? A nice sweater, pull over, blouse, button up, polo shirt or plain top that is clean and neat
Magazine article? You may want to consider something from your work such a lab coat over professional attire for variety
Dating profile? Show your personality with a hat or layers

Here are some great ideas:

Well fitting suits are great (avoid if you have to borrow one that doesn’t fit or you haven’t worn one in at least 10 years
Ties, bowties, scarves all work well (consider patterns though to be sure they aren’t distracting, plain is best unless you want to show off your personality
Plain colored tops
Textures that lay well (avoid wrinkles or stiff fabrics that don’t sit well on your body)
Color (it’s ok to have color, you don’t want to blend into the background)
Accessories, I love hats and jewelry, but don’t go too crazy if this is for a job application